How can I mount an off-camera flash on a tripod?

Asked 1/8/2013

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2 answers

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What accessories or methods can be used to attach an off-camera flash unit to a tripod? I'm looking for practical options, including whether I need a hot shoe or cold shoe adapter, and whether the flash's included stand might work.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

10

You need something like this:

1/4-20 to hot shoe adapter

http://www.amazon.com/DL-0418-Tripod-Female-Thread-Adapter/dp/B0049UPNV8

Or maybe this one, for a lot less money:

1/4-20 to cold shoe adapter

http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Stand-Adapter-4-inch-Tripod/dp/B005HTZJBY/ref=pd_cp_p_2

There are lots of other models. Some, like the top one shown here, provide a hot shoe so that you can trigger the flash using a cable with a PC connector or, in some cases, a mini-plug. Others, like second one shown here, only give you a cold shoe, i.e. a way to hold the flash but no way to trigger it. You'd use when you're using the flash as an optical slave, i.e. triggering it with the light from another flash.

Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4262

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes. A flash can be mounted on a tripod with a shoe-to-tripod adapter or, in many cases, with the small flash stand that comes with the speedlight.

Common options:

  • cold shoe adapter: physically holds the flash and screws onto the tripod. Best if the flash will be triggered optically or by a radio trigger attached elsewhere.
  • hot shoe adapter: mounts on the tripod and also provides an electrical connection for triggering, such as via a PC sync cable on some models.
  • included flash stand: many speedlights include a small plastic foot/stand with a threaded socket, which can often be attached directly to a tripod plate.

There are also simple locking cold shoes made of plastic that are compact and won't scratch or stress the flash foot.

So the main question is not whether it can be mounted—it can—but how you want to trigger it. If you only need a holder, a cold shoe or the supplied stand is enough. If you need a wired connection through the mount, look for a hot shoe adapter with the appropriate sync option.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

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